Air-circulating apparatus for the preservation of alimentary substances.



R. RAYSON. AIR GIRGULATING APPARATUS FOR THE PRESERVATION 0P ALIMBNTARYSUBSTANCES.

APPLIOATION II LED MAYH, 1912.

Patented July 22, 1913.

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wd$z e 603 es UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RUSSELL RAYSON, 0F WINDSOR, NEAR MELBOURNE, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA,ASSIGNOR T0 JAMES MACMEIKAN, 0F MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA.

AIR-CIRCULATING APPARATUS FOR THE PRESERVATION OF ALIMENTARY SUBSTANCES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 22., 1913.

Application filed May 3, 1912. Serial No. 695,961.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, Russ an, RAYsoN, a

subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Wainui, Raleighstreet, Windsor, near Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, refrigeratingengineer, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inAir-Circulating Apparatus for the Preservation of Alimentary Substances,of which the following is a specification.

"This invention relates to air circulating apparatus employed for thepreservation of alimentary substances and consists of improvementswhereby the air in the storage chamber is circulated from a compartmentin the ceiling toward the floor thereof through intermediary valvularhanging de vices of novel construction.

Figure 1 is a vertical section through one of the storage chambers andshowing diagrammatically suitable means for maintaining the desiredcirculation of air therethrough. Fig. 2 is a plan view of said chamber.Fig. 3 is a vertical section to a larger scale through the ceiling ofthe chamber and also through one of the valvular hanging devices locatedin said chamber, and-Fig. 4 is a similar view showing a slightlymodified form of such tubular hanging device In these figures '7designates the cooling or defrosting chamber, to the ceiling compartment3 (situated between the upper ceiling 1 and under or false ceiling 2) ofwhich air is delivered, such air passing through a chamber 26 containinga cooler 30 and a heater 34 of any suitable construction, and througheither of which such air may be directed as required, and thenproceeding by chamber 27 and pipe 31 to the ceiling compartment 3, thecirculation in the chamber 7 being maintained by drawing off air throughvalves 19 in the floor 14 of such chamber by means of fan 37. This fanmay deliver the air so drawn otl' either to the atmosphere through pipe24,

or direct the same to the chamber 36 containing the heater or cooler,whence t may proceed back by chamber 27 and pipe 31 to the ceilingcompartment 3 if desired.

' Fresh air from the atmosphere will enter chamber. 26 by pipe 38. a

The suction pipe 17 leading to the fan 37 and delivery pipe 31 leadingto ceiling comsame having a spring around it located within the ceilingcompartment and adapted to close the end of the device and prevent airentering the chamber until said hanging device was loaded, as forinstance by suspending a carcass therefrom by means of a hook, andcontinuous circulation could only be effected by entering the chamberand after drawing down the device securing the same by a pin or thelike. By this invention however means are provided so that for storingalimentary substances or de-frosting the same when not suspended fromthe hook device, a continuous but reduced circulation of air through thetubular hanging device or valve is provided for as well as a fullcirculation through the same when the devices are loaded. In additionthe mounting of the spring in relation to the valvular means is suchthat it may be easily got at when broken, while means are provided for amore satisfactory dispersion of the air into the chamber. Theseimprovements in the tubular hanging device 4, are shown in detail inFigs. 3 and l.

The lower end of the tubular hanging device, or tube 4, is fitted with ashackle 5 to receive the carcass or other body or material to bepreserved or de-frosted. A spring 6 normally maintains the upper end oftube 4 applied to the under side of the upper ceiling 1 so as to closethe bore of said tube, as shown in the drawings, until the weight of thebody or material to be treated applied to the lower end of said tube, byovercoming the tension of spring 6 pulls the tube 4: down and so permitsthe cooling or de-fro' sti-ng medium to enter the top of the bore and topass down and issue from the lower end thereof into the cooling ordefrosting chamber 7.

The upper portion of the open-ended tube 4 which is located within theceiling compartment 3, is provided with one or more lateral holes 8communicating with the bore of said tube, and which holes are open tosaid compartment 3 when the upper end of tube 4 is closed by contactwith the upper ceiling 1, by which means a continuous reduced current ofair to the chamber 7 is insured.

When the upper end of tube 4 is opened by the weight suspended fromshackle 5 at its lower end overcoming the tension of spring 6, the holes8 preferably become closed so that the air will pass through the tubeonly directly through the bore from the top thereof.

The closing of holes 8 may be effected either as illustrated in Fig. 3or in Fig. 4, in the latter of which spring 6 surrounds the portion oftube 4 situated in the ceiling compartment 3 and on the descent of thetube the convolutions of said spring by their near approach or coming incontact will out ofi said holes from the surrounding space and soprevent air enterin same therefrom.

In Fig. 3 a sleeve 9 pro ects up from the.

under ceiling 2 and through it the upper portion of tube t works, sothat the holes 8 in the latter will be closed on the descent of saidtube under the weight of the body suspended from shackle 5 at its lowerend. Spring 6 is inserted through an opening 10 in the under ceiling 2and bears on shoulder 11 formed on the portion of tube 4 situated withinsleeve 9, said opening 10 being closed by a retaining cover plate 12which is removably secured to the underside of the bottom 2 of ceilingcompartment 3, z. e. the false ceiling of the chamber 7. By thisconstruction if a spring breaks it can be removed and anothersubstituted by simply detaching said retaining plate 12.

The tube 4 toward its lower end is provided with lateral openings 13situated just below the under surface of false ceiling 2 when said tubeis in its highest position, said holes insuring the issue of airlaterally under the ceiling so as to carry off any moisture which mightotherwise be deposited and accumulate thereon.

The bore of tube 4:, as shown at 14, is

urpose of insuring a more satisfactory di usion or dispersion of the airas it issues from the bottom of the bore of the tube and circulates overthe carcasses or other bodies or substances suspended in chamber 7, thanwouldbe attained by a hanging tubular valvular device formed with asmooth bore.

I claim 1. In an apparatus for preserving alimentary substances, thecombination, with a storage chamber having a compartment in its ceiling,and. means for introducing air into ,said compartment and withdrawing itfrom the bottom of said chamber; of a valve for controlling the passageof the air between said compartment and chamber comprising an open-endedtube movable vertically through an opening in the bottom wall of thecompartment and having its upper portion extending into the latter andits lower portion extending into the chamber, a spring engaged with saidtube for normally holding the same in raised position, with its upperend in contactwith the top wall of said compartment, to prevent thepassage of air through said end, and means connected to the lowerportion-of said tube for suspending the alimentary substance therefrom,whereby the weight of the suspended substance will depress said tube anduncover said end, to permit the passage of air through said end, thesaid upper portion of said tube being provided with a lateral air inletadjacent to said end to permit a continuous but reduced circulation -ofair through said tube when the same is in its raised position.

2. In an apparatus for preserving alimentary substances, thecombination, with a storage chamber having a compartment in its ceiling,and means for introducing air into said compartment and withdrawing itfrom the bottom of said chamber; of a valve for controlling the passageof the air between said compartment and chamber comprising an open-endedinternally-rifled tube movable vertically through an opening in thebottom wall of the compartment and having its upper portion extendinginto the latter and its lower portion extending into the chamber, aspring engaged with said tube for normally holding the same in raisedposition, with its upper end in contact with the top wall of saidcompartment, to prevent the passage of air through said end, and meansconnectedto the lower portion of said tube for suspending the alimentarysubstance therefrom, whereby the weight of the suspended substance willdepress said tube and uncover said end, to permit the passage of airthrough said end, the said upper portion of said tube being providedwith a lateral air inlet adjacent to said end to permit a continuousbutreduced circulation of air through said tube when the same is in itsraised position.

3. In an apparatus for preserving alimentary substances, thecombination, with a storage chamben having a compartment in its ceiling,and means for introducing air into said compartment and withdrawing itfrom the bottom of said chamber; of a valve for controlling the passageof the air between said compartment and chamber comprising an open-endedtube movable vertically through an opening in the bottom wa l of thecompartment and having its uppe portion extending into the latter andits lower portion extending into the chamber, a spring engaged with saidtube or normally holding the same in raised position with its upper endin contact with the top wall of said compartment, to prevent the passageof air through said end, and means connected to the lower portion ofsaid tube for suspending the alimentary substance therefrom, whereby theweight of the suspended substance will depress said tube and uncoversaid end, to permit the passage of air through said end, the said upperportion of said tube being provided with a lateral air inlet adjacent tosaid end to permit a continuous but reduced circulation out air throughsaid tube when the same is in its raised position, and the lower portionof said tube being provided with a lateral air outlet situated at apoint just below the lower side of the said bottom wall of saidcompartment.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

RUSSELL RAYSON.

Witnesses Eowenn N, -VVzrrnas, WILLIAM HERBERT il arnns.

